NPR referred to Evangelicals as "ragtag Christians" if they support President Trump

JackRT · Jan 28, 2019

Albion said:
. It's not as obvious or odious as MSNBC or CNN, but being "public radio" you might expect better.

Or Fox or Brietbart?

BobRyan · Jan 28, 2019

timothyu said:
I might add the separation of church and state was the best thing founding fathers of the US'ers ever did. It gave Christians a chance once again to freely serve the Kingdom rather than the State.

Agreed.

BobRyan · Jan 28, 2019

Go Braves said:
Well that explains why the OP didn't link it, lol. I think without intending to the OP & the folks who just went along with what was claimed kinda proved what the fellow said.

A closer read of the OP would benefit your post.

BobRyan · Jan 28, 2019

archer75 said:
A small portion of their funding comes from any government source. Their single greatest source of funding is from listeners who choose to donate. About NPR: Public Radio Finances

So we might expect a hard left agenda if they have an extreme left group of supporters. That is not surprising.

======================== HERE is a case in point

The hard left view "gets a pass" -- because "the right made me do it".

but the Right has to fully justify itself.

MARTIN: So Speaker Pelosi might be one of the most high-profile people to make the argument that the wall is immoral, but she isn't the only one. As briefly as you can, what's the basis of that view?

CASEY: Well, I think it's in response to a view that says God wants the wall. In fact, it is divinely ordained. I don't think Speaker Pelosi would be making a moral argument here if it weren't for the fact that there are people out there saying no, God wants this wall.

=================

How "funny" that Pelosi was not making that "wall is immoral" case to Clinton when he was building the wall.

And Pelosi made no "mr Obama - tear down that wall" speech 3 years ago.

in any case I am not arguing that "the left" cannot have an extreme bias and express its views in a way that critical readers would tend to not take them seriously. They have free will -

But when they try to get into the unfamiliar territory of "moral values" and what the "Bible says if one happens to look at it" -- that's when they get my attention.

BTW -- I think Martin's question is a fare one. But "the right made me do it" answer he got was less than stellar. I think a good reporter would not let that slide. Can we really charge that everyone is immoral if they differ with us - and then when we are called on it say "oh of course that was stupid of me to say that - but those I oppose made me say that"??

Albion · Jan 28, 2019

JackRT said:
Or Fox or Brietbart?

"Expect better" as in unbiased (because NPR is supposed to be "public" radio, unlike the commercial networks).

BobRyan · Jan 28, 2019

Here is an example where the program has a few seconds of very good clarity.

===================================

MARTIN: Is in part the sort of a theological or spiritual or religious impetus for the Pelosi view that this is a rich country and that people who have more are required to offer comfort and shelter to people who have less - particularly people who are in dire distress?

CASEY: I think it's even deeper than that. It's woven into the American DNA that we are and have been a location for the oppressed, those who flee persecution. You can come to America, enjoy the freedom. Now, that has not been unregulated, and no one is saying, let's have an open border.

====================================

Indeed - legal immigration and our asylum program are specifically designed to address those issues -- not 10's of thousands of illegals rushing the boarder - but rather a rational approach.

Combined with the faith-based groups that send people and resources outside the U.S. all the time to help people in certain desperate conditions.

Orthodoxjay1 · Jan 28, 2019

JackRT said:
May I suggest that before you hit "post reply" that you briefly review your posts for mistakes. I do want to know exactly what it is you are trying to say.

Fixedit , happy now? or will you still complain?

JackRT · Jan 28, 2019

I am a regular listener of CBC radio (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) which is government funded. It is affiliated with NPR both as a contributor and consumer. NPR programming comes from quite a large number of contributing stations all over the USA. Generally I have found their programming to be both balanced and unbiased. Another positive about NPR is that it is pitched to a somewhat higher educational level than a great deal of other programming.

BobRyan · Jan 28, 2019

JackRT said:
I am a regular listener of CBC radio (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) which is government funded. It is affiliated with NPR both as a contributor and consumer. .

That actually explains a great deal about NPR. Still the name "national public radio" with its government funding does place it under some obligation to be objective.

JackRT · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
Indeed - legal immigration and our asylum program are specifically designed to address those issues -- not 10's of thousands of illegals rushing the boarder - but rather a rational approach.

For the first time since such records have been kept, last year Canada admitted more legal refugees than the USA (28,000 to 24,000). This is interesting in that Canada's population is just about 10% that of the USA. I understand that in the last couple of years Canada has roughly doubled its numbers while the USA has roughly cut back by 2/3. Canada is also experiencing a large number of illegals fleeing from the USA into Canada seeking asylum. Not to mention illegal guns.

timothyu · Jan 28, 2019

redleghunter said:
Imagine that NPR wanting to get involved in interpreting Holy Scriptures.

Kind of like those who refuse to interpret these...

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

AS for mention here of a wall, how does that align with loving neighbour as self and alleviating the oppression of others as commanded by Jesus?

JackRT · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
That actually explains a great deal about NPR. Still the name "national public radio" with its government funding does place it under some obligation to be objective.

I agree and I believe it does.

Tolkien R.R.J · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
Yesterday an NPR program called Evangelicals that support President Trump a "ragtag" group of Christians who don't know what Romans 13 is talking about when they claim it is telling Christians to comply with the government.

It's one thing to "Vote" on one side or the other - but to attack the Christians who "differ" with your political support for one party President or the other -- seems a bit over the top. NPR "experts" on religion and whether NPR experts imagine that some group does not know what the Bible says -- has not often been a reliable indicator of "actual fact" when it comes to the Bible.

Evangelicals are in line with most Christians who hold that the moral values dictated by the Bible override a lot of other more "political" concerns about personal politics or not liking "one person".

=================

found it online

MARTIN: "How do you think religiously committed people in the U.S. are confronting this issue of the wall?"

CASEY: "Well, I think there is a minority of American Christians - they're overwhelmingly white. They're overwhelmingly Republican. They're overwhelmingly influenced by this sort of ragtag group of folk, you know, on the evangelical advisory board the White House has - who are going to endorse any kind of strongman move the president makes because ultimately, a passage like Romans 13 and this very strict, narrow misinterpretation of it authorizes that view."

The Moral Question Of Trump's Border Wall

Further Romans 13 does not teach unlimited submission to government.

Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God

hedrick · Jan 28, 2019

sfs said:
Here it is. The actual quotation:

So it was the people on the advisory board who were called "ragtag", not evangelicals in general.

Right. It wasn't aimed at people who support a wall for their own reasons, but at a group of people who (at least according to the story) said it's our duty to support Trump because he's president. As noted above, obeying the government is very different from approving what he wants to do.

His student · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
.................. "How do you think religiously committed people in the U.S. are confronting this issue of the wall?"

Any so called Christian (including Pelosi and Casey) who believes that walls are immoral obviously hasn't read Nehemiah.

For that matter they need to take a look at the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation.

But then - I doubt that these folk read much of the Word of God at all in the first place. :liturgy:

Tutorman · Jan 28, 2019

JackRT said:
Reported as gratuitously insulting.

That's nice, does not change my opinion and actually reinforces my idea of liberals

Pethesedzao · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
Yesterday an NPR program called Evangelicals that support President Trump a "ragtag" group of Christians who don't know what Romans 13 is talking about when they claim it is telling Christians to comply with the government.

It's one thing to "Vote" on one side or the other - but to attack the Christians who "differ" with your political support for one party President or the other -- seems a bit over the top. NPR "experts" on religion and whether NPR experts imagine that some group does not know what the Bible says -- has not often been a reliable indicator of "actual fact" when it comes to the Bible.

Evangelicals are in line with most Christians who hold that the moral values dictated by the Bible override a lot of other more "political" concerns about personal politics or not liking "one person".

=================

found it online

MARTIN: "How do you think religiously committed people in the U.S. are confronting this issue of the wall?"

CASEY: "Well, I think there is a minority of American Christians - they're overwhelmingly white. They're overwhelmingly Republican. They're overwhelmingly influenced by this sort of ragtag group of folk, you know, on the evangelical advisory board the White House has - who are going to endorse any kind of strongman move the president makes because ultimately, a passage like Romans 13 and this very strict, narrow misinterpretation of it authorizes that view."

The Moral Question Of Trump's Border Wall

Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

com7fy8 · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
Yesterday an NPR program called Evangelicals that support President Trump a "ragtag" group of Christians who don't know what Romans 13 is talking about when they claim it is telling Christians to comply with the government.

Donald is not the whole American government; but by getting so much attention, this can get some number of people to suppose he is the United States of America and not only its government. But the U.S. government is a checks and balances system, isn't it? So, you can support this government by honoring how various groups can interact with Donald and test him.

grasping the after wind said:
Unfortunately the religious left also craves theocracy.

Some number of us humans have the god of "self". And right now we in the United States might have at least a few thousand different selfs all trying to be the god who rules the United States by means of theocracy . . . meaning they themselves are the gods ruling.

But here is the theocracy which I think rules the one nation of Jesus Christ's people >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

Defect to Jesus, if you haven't ! ! !

And be ruled by God's own peace in our hearts > "and you will find rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:28-30)

timothyu · Jan 28, 2019

Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Sparagmos · Jan 28, 2019

BobRyan said:
Yesterday an NPR program called Evangelicals that support President Trump a "ragtag" group of Christians who don't know what Romans 13 is talking about when they claim it is telling Christians to comply with the government.

It's one thing to "Vote" on one side or the other - but to attack the Christians who "differ" with your political support for one party President or the other -- seems a bit over the top. NPR "experts" on religion and whether NPR experts imagine that some group does not know what the Bible says -- has not often been a reliable indicator of "actual fact" when it comes to the Bible.

Evangelicals are in line with most Christians who hold that the moral values dictated by the Bible override a lot of other more "political" concerns about personal politics or not liking "one person".

=================

found it online

MARTIN: "How do you think religiously committed people in the U.S. are confronting this issue of the wall?"

CASEY: "Well, I think there is a minority of American Christians - they're overwhelmingly white. They're overwhelmingly Republican. They're overwhelmingly influenced by this sort of ragtag group of folk, you know, on the evangelical advisory board the White House has - who are going to endorse any kind of strongman move the president makes because ultimately, a passage like Romans 13 and this very strict, narrow misinterpretation of it authorizes that view."

The Moral Question Of Trump's Border Wall

Hmm, that’s not how I read it. He’s saying that some Evangelical Trump supporters invoke Romans 13 this way, not all.

NPR referred to Evangelicals as "ragtag Christians" if they support President Trump

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